The US Senate passed a controversial “fast-track” trade bill in a 62-37 vote on Friday. It is a key part of President Barack Obama's pivot to Asia, which aims to counter China's rising economic and diplomatic power via the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The bill will now head
to the House of Representatives for a vote early next month,
where it is expected to face a tougher showdown.

If passed by the House, the fast-track bill will give Obama the
power to negotiate trade pacts with other countries and submit
them to Congress without lawmakers being able to introduce
amendments to them.

But some House Democrats have expressed worry about the bill's
impact on jobs and the environment, while some conservatives
oppose giving the White House more power.

Senate votes 62-37 to pass trade fast track bill. A hard-fought
win for Pres Obama. But prospects in the House even more
difficult.

The Senate ended debate on the bill on Thursday in a 62-38 vote,
pushing it to the forefront of Friday's agenda. Obama called that
vote "a big step forward.”

In a close 51-48 vote
Friday, senators rejected an amendment that would’ve mandated any
future trade bills to feature penalties against countries that
manipulate the value of their currency in order to sell products
overseas at lower prices.

The chamber also rejected an amendment by Sen. Elizabeth Warren
(D-Mass.) that would have prevented approval of the TPP if it
included an Investor-State Dispute Settlement system, which gives
multinational corporations the ability to fight regulations in
other countries. Liberals have railed against the ISDS, arguing
that it would allow companies to undermine US laws.

Meanwhile, another amendment that would’ve required Congress to
approve of any additional country that wants to join the TPP in
the future.

The main aim of fast-track, which would initially have a
three-year term, is to implement the Trans-Pacific Partnership –
a trade deal that would link 40 percent of the world's economy.

Along with the United States, 11 other countries have taken part
in TPP negotiations: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan,
Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. The
deal would exclude China and serve to counter its growing
economic and diplomatic influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

The proposed partnership has been a source of intense debate in
Washington and throughout the United States – and Obama's
Democrats are divided on the matter.

Those in favor of the partnership include big businesses,
Congressional Republicans, and President Obama himself.

“TPP is good for American businesses and American
workers...we will make the case on the merits as to why it will
open up markets for American goods, American exports, and create
American jobs,” Obama said in a statement on April 28.

But those against TPP – including labor unions and the Tea Party
– say the deal would put American manufacturing jobs at risk.